Russell – His GP was worried about the risk of cancer

The Burning Truth About Gastric Reflux

Living with gastric reflux is not as simple as a touch of indigestion after a big meal; for some people it is a life-changing condition that can have far-reaching effects, impinging on everyday aspects of life, and even threatening long-term health.

One such sufferer is 39 year-old Russell Theobald, a law enforcement officer from Essex. Up until two-and-a-half years ago, his reflux was controlled with proton pump inhibiting medication, but his symptoms suddenly became a lot worse. The pain was so severe and so frequent that it began to compromise his efficiency at work, and he felt unable to regularly visit the gym; a hobby he had enjoyed for many years. Russell says:

“I was told that I had some superficial ulceration but then my doctor told me there was a likelihood of cancer if it carried on. I was offered a surgical procedure where the upper curve of the stomach is wrapped around the oesophagus and sewn, but that sounded really brutal, so I was doing a lot of research on the internet to find an alternative. One day I got a letter from my mum who lives in Austria. She’d found an article in a German-language magazine talking about LINX® and sent it to me.”

Russell, who has three sons, researched the LINX® Reflux Management System, discovering that it comprises a small, flexible band of magnets enclosed in titanium beads. The device is implanted around the weak sphincter, just above the stomach. The magnetic attraction between the beads helps keep the weak oesophageal sphincter closed to prevent reflux. Further research led Russell, who has suffered with reflux for nearly twenty years, to upper GI surgeon Mr Majid Hashemi at the Weymouth Hospital, who informed a delighted Russell that he would be an ideal candidate for the procedure.

Following the procedure, Russell hasn’t looked back. The reflux symptoms that plagued him for two decades have disappeared, and he has been able to throw himself back into family life, work duties and the gym with a renewed vigour. Russell concludes:

“I had, at times, felt that I would suffer with gastric reflux for the rest of my life and I couldn’t bear the thought. My surgery was scheduled for late afternoon, and I was up and enjoying breakfast the next morning. I had no reflux – nothing. I would do it all over again.”

Other Real Patient Stories

Peter – 34, suffered from reflux so extreme he thought he was having a heart attack